Invocation.

Invocation.

Stotras are poems written in praise of a particular deity. Sthothras are composed by someone, a rishi or a human being or even Gods ,Whereas Mantras are not composed by any particular person .

Stotra is a Sanskrit word that means “praise,” “hymn of praise,” “ode” and “eulogy.” It typically refers to a genre of Hindu texts that are sung (rather than recited) and that praise various aspects and incarnations of the Divine, such as Shiva, Rama, Hanuman, Vishnu, Durga and Lakshmi.

Stotras (or stotram) originate in the Vedas, the earliest of Hindu scriptures, particularly the “Rig Veda," and in the Puranas, Indian texts that cover a wide range of topics.

In addition to general praise for God, stotras describe mystical or deep spiritual experiences or may petition God to forgive sins, remove difficulties, grant higher knowledge or bestow physical or emotional comforts.